Integrated optical imaging assembly

1. An optical imaging assembly, comprising: a mounting surface; an optical detector mounted to said mounting surface at a first end of an image light path; an optical system mounted to said mounting surface and interposed in the image light path; and an illumination source mounted to said mounting surface for illuminating a second end of the image light path.

2. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting surface comprises a printed circuit board.

3. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket having a side portion and a top portion, said top portion extending from said side portion, and wherein said mounting surface comprises a flexible printed circuit attached to said mounting bracket.

4. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein said optical detector comprises a contact image sensor.

5. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein said optical detector comprises an array of photodetectors.

6. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein said optical detector comprises a charge-coupled device.

7. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein said optical system comprises a gradient index lens.

8. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein said optical system comprises at least one shaped optical lens.

9. The optical imaging assembly of claim 8, wherein said shaped optical lens comprises a cylindrical lens.

10. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein said illumination source comprises an array of light emitting diodes.

11. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein said illumination source comprises at least one fluorescent light.

12. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a reflector mounted to said mounting surface to change the direction of the image light path between said optical system and said optical detector.

13. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a reflector mounted to said optical system to change the direction of the image light path between said optical system and said optical detector.

14. The optical imaging assembly of claim 13, wherein said reflector comprises a glass substrate mirror.

15. The optical imaging assembly of claim 13, wherein said reflector comprises a polished metal surface.

16. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising an illumination reflector mounted to said optical system to direct an illumination light path from said illumination source onto the image light path.

17. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the illumination reflector comprises a polished metal surface.

18. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lens mounted to said illumination source to direct an illumination light path from said illumination source onto the image light path.

19. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lens mounted to said mounting surface to direct an illumination light path from said illumination source onto the image light path.

20. The optical imaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising signal conditioning elements mounted to said mounting surface for conditioning an electrical signal produced by said optical detector.

21. An optical imaging assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board having an upper end and a lower end; an optical detector mounted to the upper end of said printed circuit board at an end of an image light path; a lens mounted to said printed circuit board below said optical detector and interposed in the image light path; a reflector mounted to said lens in the image light path between said lens and said optical detector for directing the image light path between said lens and said optical detector; an illumination source mounted to the lower end of said printed circuit board for illuminating a second end of the image light path below said lens; and an illumination reflector mounted to said lens opposite said illumination source for directing an illumination light path from said illumination source toward the image light path below said lens.